"Chinese Propaganda Posters — From Revolution to Modernization..."
http://web.archive.org/web/20090704152206im_/http://www.iisg.nl/landsberger/index.html
"A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, and act of violence by which one class overthrows another."
-Gordon G. Chang, Excerpt From: The Dinner Party: The Revolution Has Grown Old
Leading to the Revolution
Mao hated not being in charge of the PRC. He felt that Liu and Deng should consult him first.
However, both led China on their own choices, and Mao fumed with
rage and plotted revenge.
Mao wanted to be PRC Chairman once again. He
decided to show the government and the people that he could not be
forced out of government. He planned to start another
revolution by gathering students who would support him.
|
"But Mao was more and more dissatisfied. He did not control party policy and he felt that Liu Shaoqi and the other leaders were betraying the revolution."
-Will Lyman. China: A Country of Revolution: Part II |
"In the early 1960s, Mao retreated from the public eye, allowing his associates to essentially clean up the political and economic fallout of this disaster [GLF], which included millions of lives lost to famine . . . But Mao still hoped to reassert himself on the body politic, and after several years in the background he did so . . . he launched the Cultural Revolution as a means to reinvigorate the people of China . . . he reached out to the urban students and young people as the leaders of the movement . . . since many of them had no memory or experience of the GLF disaster, which was mainly in the countryside."
-Jeremy A. Murray, History Department, CSU San Bernardino
Yangtze Swim
Mao portrayed himself by swimming in the Yangtze River on July 16, 1966. He believed that swimming in the river would help him gain respect as a superhuman. He also wanted to impress the students so that they would support him in the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.
"The celebrated 1966 swim, when Mao was 73, was part of the launch of the Cultural Revolution and the cult of Mao as a superhuman figure. . . . Then came the 16 July swim. Accompanying 5,000 young swimmers in the annual race across the river at Wuhan, he is reported to have swum almost 15 kilometers (nine miles) in 65 minutes, swimming along with the currents. Pictures of Mao's head bobbing above the water, surrounded by swimmers carrying huge banners celebrating his achievement, were seen not only throughout China but around the world. The message was clear, even in his 70s, Mao was a force to be reckoned with."
-Madeleine Lynn. Old Man River: Chairman Mao And The Yangtze |
"The Bloody History Of Communism" Volume III/(00:08)Narrator: Fatih Kocoman YouTube: Chris Smith |
Cultural Revolution
". . . the Red Guards were not ashamed to admit that their tactics were violent: a group of youths in Harbin in 1966 declared: 'Today we will carry out Red Terror, and tomorrow we will carry out Red Terror. As long as there are things in existence which are not in accordance with Mao Zedong Thought, we must rebel and carry out Red Terror!' "
-Rana Mitter, Modern China: A Century of Revolution
"The Bloody History Of Communism" Volume III/(00:14)Narrator: Fatih Kocoman YouTube: Chris Smith |
"The Bloody History Of Communism" Volume III/(00:24)Narrator: Fatih Kocoman YouTube: Chris Smith |
"The Bloody History Of Communism" Volume III/(00:18)Narrator: Fatih Kocoman YouTube: Chris Smith |
"My father-in-law had encountered the Red Guards one day on his way home from work. The Red Guards stopped him and asked him several questions from the Red Book. His answer to the Red Guards was not satisfactory, so they beat him up very badly. . . he had faced verbal, physical, and mental threats. He was forced to wear a dunce cap on his head while a crowd spat insulting phrases at him. This abuse had shook him so much, that later, he came down with a frightful sickness. A few months later, he died at home."
-Shui Chow, Retired, 68 years old
The downfall of Liu and Deng started as soon as Mao rose back as PRC Chairman. Liu was considered the top capitalist-roader in China
and was thrown in jail where he would eventually die. On the contrary, Deng and his family were exiled.
"We are Chairman Mao's Red Guard, and Chairman Mao is our highest leader. ... We have unlimited trust in the people! We have the deepest hatred for our enemies! In life, we struggle for the party! In death, we give ourselves up for the benefit of the people! ... With our blood and our lives, we swear to defend Chairman Mao! Chairman Mao, we have unlimited faith in you!"
-Rana Mitter, Modern China: A Very Short Introduction
"In 1964, Lin [Biao] published a pocket-sized book called, 'Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong.' First it was distributed throughout the army, then in work units and schools . . ." |
"It was very frightening. Anyone could be attacked at any moment by the Red Guards. It was a worrisome time where if you were not communist to the point where the government likes it, you were not safe. Essentially, no one was safe . . . In 1966, I was nineteen years old and had only been married a few years when Chairman Mao started the Cultural Revolution with his Red Guards. Everywhere, students were shouting for revolution. For a period of two years, these dangerous Red Guards terrorized the entire place. They destroyed temples, churches, schools, and any signs of foreign influences. They also beat you up if they thought that you were not communist."
-Shui Chow, Retired, 68 years old
The Red Guards rose in power during the Cultural Revolution, attacking the old society and the capitalists. With the Red Book in hand, they found, tortured, and killed people considered to be democracy supporters. By 1968, schools were closed and hospitals were shut down. By the time the Cultural Revolution ended, Mao was on his deathbed and the Red Guards were attacking each other.